Oakland Raiders Film Room: Week 11 (Chargers)
By Evan Ball
The Assassination of Philip Rivers by the Ninja Antonio Smith
Sacks are fun. Sack celebrations are fun. 280 pound ultra-masculine men performing in front of tens of thousands of people as though they are on broadway are not to be missed. Thank the football gods these types of celebrations aren’t outlawed (yet).
Credit: NFL Game Rewind
3rd and 3 early in the third quarter. San Diego uses 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) in a 3×1 alignment against Oakland’s nickel package (3 DLs, 3 LBs, 5 DBs) in man-free coverage (single deep safety, man coverage underneath). San Diego’s offensive line hesitates as both LBs Sio Moore and Miles Burris fake blitz then drop back right into the middle of the shallow crossing route from WR Keenan Allen and TE Antonio Gates’ deep cross route. That split second hesitation makes LG Chad Rinehart slow to get to Antonio Smith as he quickly slices through Rinehart & LT King Dunlap (busy with Khalil Mack) then dives at QB Philip Rivers to make a truly acrobatic tackle very befitting of a ninja. Then of course… celebration fun times.
